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SEYMOUR OPOCHINSKY
Born: Oct 03, 1932
Date of Passing: Oct 04, 2019
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SEYMOUR OPOCHINSKY
He was born October 3, 1932 in The Bronx, New York to parents, Isadore and Mary Opochinsky. Seymour was drafted into the United States Army in 1954 and was honourably discharged in 1956. He served a year and a half tour in Germany. Seymour then moved back to The Bronx and completed his Masters in Science and Education (School Psychology) at City College. He then obtained a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He went on to live there for many years, teaching at the University of Denver, and working as a clinical psychologist setting up mental health clinics throughout Colorado. During this time, he met his wife Carol Anderson, a mental health care nurse. In 1967 Seymour was also a Field Assessment Officer for the Peace Corps in Columbia, South America and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Seymour moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1968 where he taught Clinical Psychology at the U of M for 20 years. During his career he taught and consulted at several hospitals including Health Sciences Centre, St. Boniface Hospital, Lake of the Woods Hospital, and Child and Family Services in Kenora. As well, he worked for several organizations including Corrections Canada, Archdiocese of St. Boniface, and First Nations communities such as Tikanagen.
Seymour is survived by his wife Carol Opochinsky, daughter Ruth Dick, her husband Sandy Dick, grandchildren, Joshua and Ella Dick, his son Anders Opochinsky, his sister Chana Schachner, and his good friends Morgan Ross-Scharf and Bryan Scharf who adopted Seymour into their family.
He helped many people, and his students continue to do so. To honour his wishes, there will not be a service. Instead, he would like the people who knew him to make donations to a charity, or to help someone in need.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 12, 2019
Condolences & Memories (8 entries)
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Like Holly, I came upon the sad news about Seymour while trying to get in touch with Carol. Seymour was an original. Warm, witty and indomitable enough to rent a huge van for a drive back to Winnipeg from New Hampshire and as he pulled in he said "Stick shift was really no problem after the first few minutes." Condolences to Carol and to Ruth and Andy. - Posted by: Leah B. Miller (old friend from Colorado) on: Nov 16, 2020
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Greetings Carol. My sincere condolences to you and your family. It has been many years since we have been in touch. While sheltering in place and cleaning out a desk drawer, I found addresses I had not looked at for years. I found your name and recalled our association back in the 1990s. Chuck and I reside in Billings. We’re fine - growing older and slower. Our son and family refuse in Bozeman. 140 miles from us. I retire in 2009 from the U of Alaska, then was recruited to teach part time with MSU. In July 2017, I retired from writing. For the past 10 years, I have volunteered for Suicide prevention education. Life has been good. Would love to hear from you. All the best, Fredricka Gilje - Posted by: Fredricka (Friend ) on: Apr 02, 2020
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Perhaps the wisest, funniest and most compassionate person I've ever met. RIP, Seymour! Condolences to Carol, Ruth, Anders and extended family. - Posted by: William Wilson (Friend) on: Mar 01, 2020
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I just stumbled across this. I was looking for information on how to get in contact with Carol, since I'd lost the address book the information was stored in. I have so many memories of Seymour's wit, warmth, and humor that it's hard to pick one as outstanding. Dad loved Seymour and so did the rest of us. He was an extraordinarily kind man and I feel lucky to have known him. My love to Carol, Ruth, and Anders, Holly - Posted by: Holly E Wilson (Friend) on: Mar 01, 2020
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Seymour was a professor of mine in the early 1970s. I took an illuminating Abnormal Psychology course from Seymour and the sound of his voice will be with my all the days of my life, and in my Afterworlds too. One day Seymour brought a box of dolls to the classroom and he recounted how a young child had abused the dolls. It was a tough case because for a long time the child would not speak. One day the boy said "Dolls". Seymour seized the moment and the healing process began, and the boy grew up to be a psychotherapist in New York City. I will do as you request Seymour. I will help someone in need in your memory. - Posted by: Douglas Donegani (Student of long ago.) on: Nov 17, 2019
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Seymour was a colleague of mine in the Department of Psychology at the University of Manitoba back in the 1980s and 1990s when we both taught there. He was a caring man with much heart as well as being a very talented clinician. Whenever I had a puzzling situation with a child or teen age client, I could turn to him and rely on his experience and wisdom for guidance. I looked up to him a great deal and hoped one day to have the knowledge and experience he had as a therapist as well as the compassion he had for people. I feel great fondness for him as I carry his memory in my heart. - Posted by: Dr Lillian Esses (Colleague) on: Oct 16, 2019
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I was so saddened to hear of Dr. O's passing. Just a month or so ago, I was trying to find a way to reach him to tell him the impact he had on our son's life and to let him know how well he turned out. Unfortunately, I was spelling his last name wrong and couldn't find him. If I had been able to speak to him, here's what I would have said "Dr. O, you had such a positive impact on our son's life. You helped us understand him better and you had such optimism about him and how he would turn out in life. I want to tell you that he is a wonderful, loving 31 year old now, has his masters degree, is living in Montreal and is engaged to a most wonderful woman. Thank you for all your caring and support during his adolescence - he really liked you and enjoyed your many meetings. Thank you." Sincere sympathy to Dr. O's family. - Posted by: Eileen Kirton (patient's mother) on: Oct 12, 2019
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My condolences to the family. - Posted by: Valerie Alderson (Homecare Nurse) on: Oct 12, 2019